Accident Overview
On 16 June 2017, a Pacific Aerospace Ltd FU24 Stallion, registered VH-EUO, was conducting aerial agricultural operations from a private airstrip at Redhill, approximately 36 km north-north-east of Bathurst, New South Wales. The aircraft was involved in the aerial application of fertiliser on three properties in the Upper Turon area. The pilot and loader began the day by driving to Bathurst Airport to fill the fuel tanker, then proceeded to the worksite at Redhill airstrip, arriving around 0830 Eastern Standard Time.
Flight Operations
Work on the first property commenced at about 0900, with the first flight of the day starting at 0920. Operations continued until 1350, with two refuelling stops at 1048 and 1250. Approximately 40 tonnes of fertiliser was applied during this job. For the second job, the aircraft was loaded with fertiliser and seed, and maps of the new area were given to the pilot. The aircraft took off for the first flight of the second job at 1357, returned to reload, and then took off again at 1405. Shortly after, at 14:06:59, recorded flight data from the aircraft ceased.
Search and Wreckage
When the aircraft did not return as expected, the loader attempted to contact the pilot via radio. Unable to raise the pilot, the loader drove down the airstrip but found no sign of the aircraft. He then drove to the application area to search before returning to the load site and calling emergency services. By about 1500, police had arrived and a ground search commenced, later joined by a police helicopter. The search was called off due to low light. The next morning at about 0630, the search resumed with NSW Police State Emergency Service personnel and local volunteers. At approximately 0757, the wreckage of the aircraft was found in dense bush on the side of a hill to the east of the application area. The pilot was found deceased in the aircraft. The aircraft was discovered about 17 hours after the last recorded flight data, and there were no witnesses to the accident.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined that the pilot flew the aircraft into an area of rising terrain that was outside the normal operating area for that job site. For reasons that could not be determined, the aircraft aerodynamically stalled and collided with terrain during re-positioning at the end of the application run. No evidence of any defect with the aircraft that would have contributed to the loss of control was found.